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Children's Museum outlines downtown flagship plan; Glover Arts Foundation asks council for $15,000
Summary
The Children's Museum of Montgomery updated the council on programming and a downtown building project that staff said aims for a summer 2027 opening; the Glover Arts Foundation (Symphony Q Academy) asked the council for $15,000 to support youth arts programming, saying it serves 65 students and is a registered 501(c)(3) and city vendor.
Two nonprofit presenters briefed the council on program growth and local needs.
Cecilia Garnier, who identified herself as CEO of the Children's Museum of Montgomery, thanked the city for ongoing support, said the organization has served more than 2,000 children and families and raised over $50,000 to support STEAM programming, and described programming such as EcoBloom and coding camps. She said the museum currently operates in the MAP360 building downtown and is advancing a Montgomery Street building project with Brown Studio Architecture and Gordon Davis; the museum hopes to open a permanent flagship in summer 2027.
Council members asked for the museum's current and planned addresses; Garnier said the museum's current address is within MAP360 at 1 Court Square and that the planned downtown site is listed as 142 Montgomery Street and includes work on the Old Flames/adjacent department‑store building. She offered to share presentation slides and contact information for follow up.
Laquanjula Lester, owner of Symphony Q Academy of Dance and founder of the Glover Arts Foundation, said her nonprofit operates community dance programming and presented a video. Lester said the foundation will administer funds for its nonprofit programming, that it is set up as a 501(c)(3) and a city vendor, and asked the council for $15,000 to support classes and outreach. She said the academy currently works with about 65 students and charges between $60 and $250 per month depending on programming; council members encouraged her to seek county funding as well and offered assistance connecting to resources.
Both items were presented for council information; no votes were recorded at the work session.
